​“Wow, mommy I like your shirt! You look great!”“Your shoes are so cute sister!”

“Look how pink the sky is!”

“Yum! Thank you for the veggies mom!” – Ya, even I couldn’t believe that one.

Something that I have begun to notice in my 3 year-old is her ability to compliment others. Everyday I hear her offering appreciation and admiration of the people and things around her. While I am always excited to hear her being so kind I am even more pleased to see her practicing gratitude without being prompted.

As a child under 5, her powers of observation are in overdrive. She sees, hears, and takes in everything. As she is constantly and learning she is able to appreciate what grown ups often take for granted. I know for me, as a working parent it is often difficult to slow down and break out of my hurried pace to pay attention to the precious, complicated and beautiful things that surround me.

That’s why integrating appreciation into your daily routine is a great way to bond with your little one. For us it has created lots of sweet moments that I cherish as a parent. With Thanksgiving around the corner now is a great time to start integrating gratitude into your daily family routines. And the benefits may surprise you.

Research shows that gratitude practice has substantial benefits to your health and the health of your child. Gratitude can help you sleep better, can help boost your immune system, and can just plain make you happier.

This sounds great, but how do I actually do it?

Here are some ways to bring gratitude into your daily life:-Take a walk outside with your child and talk about what you see and why you’re grateful for nature.-Build a tree of thanks-Ask your child what they are thankful for every day – at the dinner table, during bedtime routine, on the way to school, whenever you have an opportunity for a one on one conversation.

The best way to teach your kids gratitude is to model it yourself. Tell your child why you appreciate them and look for opportunities to express thanks to everything around you: your community, neighbors, friends, colleagues, nature, food, whatever or whoever brings you joy.

Keep in mind that feeling and expressing gratitude doesn’t come naturally for everyone so be patient. Just like any skill this will take practice for you and your little one. The great news is science has shown that the more you practice, the more you will begin to feel naturally thankful. So the best place to start your gratitude journey is by appreciating yourself!

​Written by Elizabeth Hahnmom of two and Director of Development for Isla Vista Youth Projects